B.B. C.C. Monett

[Dave_O720]

Good Afternoon guys, I cam across a pearl pen knife that I was interested in but wanted to see if anyone could tell me anything about it. The tang is stamped B.B. C.C. Monett. I did a search on google but really didn't come across anything except Barnsley Brothers Cutlery Company. But non of the images of their knives match up with this tang stamp. I will attempt to attach pics but have never done it before on here.

Thanks.

[Mumbleypeg]

Welcome to AAPK. There was indeed a Barnsley Brothers Manufacturing Co. located in Monett, Mo. Goins’ Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings says they were in business 1898-1906 and made “a full line of pocket knives and straight razors”. Fairly rare stamp.

FYI here’s a link to other posts about Barnsley Brothers knives including some pictures of knives and the factory where they were made. search.php?keywords=Monett&terms=all&au ... mit=Search. Just glancing through them I don’t see any stamped like yours.

Ken

[Dave_O720]

Thanks for the insight.

[Steve Warden]

Hi Dave!
Nice knife.
Hope you find the info you're looking for.
If you do, come back and educate us!

[Ridgegrass]

Hello Dave, Can't imagine who else it could be. Here's a nice cattle knife from them. Only one I've seen with that mark and only one I have. It's a nice one, good steel, nice construction, iron liners. Very tight and snappy. They were only around for 8 years (re; Levine, and Price), so they're bound to be rare. Guess we're lucky. That pearly is a beauty! J.O'.

[ROB 55]

A few thoughts:

(1) Whatever the guides may say, the correct dates for Barnsley Brothers in Monett are January 1904 through January 1915. These dates are well documented from contemporary newspapers.

(2) The Barnsley Brothers bought the Monett Cutlery Company on December 28, 1903, and expanded its manufacturing capabilities to include a broad line of knives, razors and other cutting tools. Prior to that time, Monett Cutlery had manufactured only butcher knives and possibly razors. After a few years, however, Barnsley Brothers closed its manufacturing line and became purely a jobber -- that is, it marketed under its own name items manufactured by others. The date for this is unclear, but probably 1907-1908.

(3) The oldest of the Barnsley Brothers, Ulysses Sheridan Barnsley, was an energetic entrepreneur, continually promoting new companies, but he was also a committed socialist. When national socialist leader Eugene Debs visited Monett in May 1906, he made the introductory speech. In May 1920, he was arrested in Arkansas for sedition for calling Debs' arrest during WW I a "monstrous crime."

(4) Recently, there appeared on eBay a postcard from the "Co-operative Cutlery Company" of Monett postmarked January 1909, urging people to buy its knives and razors. The message on the card is signed "Your Comrades." I am guessing this was some creation of Barnsley to save jobs after his company shut down its manufacturing line. Monett is my hometown, which I have researched for years, and this is the first reference to this coop that I have ever seen.

(5) At a guess, the "C. C." on your knife stands for Co-operative Cutlery. "B. B." might still be Barnsley Brothers.

If anyone knows anything more about this knife and its imprint, please share.

[Waukonda]

A few thoughts:

That is some great info, thanks for posting!

[wlf]

A few thoughts:

That is some great info, thanks for posting!

I second that.

[ROB 55]

Well, I take part of it back -- specifically that the cooperative was a response to Barnsley Brothers shutting down its manufacturing line.

The Appeal to Reason was a socialist newspaper published in Girard KS but with a national distribution. It is known to have done Barnsley Brothers job printing, including its catalogs. In 1907, it ran three classified ads for the Monett cooperative's knives and razors, two with the tag line, "CUTLERY FOR SOCIALISTS." The first even had a return address to the secretary of the socialist group in Monett, of which U. S. Barnsley was an officer. So far so good. Timing fits, etc.

But the newspaper had run a similar ad on December 17, 1904, long before Barnsley closed its production line: "IF YOU ARE A SOCIALIST make yourself and friends a Christmas present of a fine Pocket Knife or Razor, made by Socialists, and mailed direct from the factory. . . . Address Co-operative Cutlery Factory Monett, Mo."

Barnsley was mainly a wholesaler. It wouldn't mail a catalog to an area where it had a dealer, but it did print catalogs and sell direct in some instances. I would think now that "co-operative cutlery" was a marketing come on addressed especially to Barnsley's niche audience of socialists. That is, it was a Barnsley brand rather than a separate company or organization. U. S. Barnsley may have been a socialist, but he was also a shameless promoter and marketer. It wouldn't surprise me if "BB CC" was a special imprint for these items, most likely "Barnsley Brothers Co-operative Cutlery."

There are several other known Barnsley imprints from Monett:

1. Barnesley Bros, early about 1904 - 1905, possibly part of 1906.
2. Barnsley Bros
3. BBB, an abbreviation of Barnsley Brothers Best, also known from the company's packaging.
4. Barnsley Barbers Best, from some of its razors.

[wlf]

I had a suspicion with the your comrades connotation.

[ROB 55]

Here are images of the "Co-operative Cutlery Co." postcard mentioned above:

[Waukonda]

Here are images of the "Co-operative Cutlery Co." postcard mentioned above:

Very interesting, Rob, thanks for showing.

Do you know whether or not, the building which housed Barnsley Brothers still stands in Monett?

[ROB 55]

Here are images of the "Co-operative Cutlery Co." postcard mentioned above:

Very interesting, Rob, thanks for showing.

Do you know whether or not, the building which housed Barnsley Brothers still stands in Monett?

The Barnsley factory was at 600 Front Street. I believe it burned about 1914. Barnsley had moved its offices one block north to 600 Broadway about 1908 when it stopped being a manufacturer and became solely a jobber. That building is also gone. Here is a photo of the original factory. Note the early spelling of Barnesley. The construction is a new Monett sewer system, which dates the photo to the second half of 1907 or 1908.

[Pugh357]

Barnsley Brothers Cutlery, Monett Missouri.
This is very good information, some of which I was not aware of.
Me and my brother are knife collectors. We recently discovered this company from the past, we are from Monett Missouri. A lot of sentimental value here, looking to preserve and acquire pieces and more history.
Anymore information, greatly appreciated.

[Pugh357]

Barnsley Brothers Cutlery, Monett Missouri.
I have some photos. I would like to share , but I can't figure out how to load them on here.

[1967redrider]

Barnsley Brothers Cutlery, Monett Missouri.
I have some photos. I would like to share , but I can't figure out how to load them on here.

Check out the first two links and the fourth in this topic- https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... m.php?f=98

to AAPK!

[Pugh357]

Barnsley Bros Monett Missouri
Barlow, pin knife and Razor. The snap, walk and talk is amazing on the Barlow. Might get them restored someday.

[Pugh357]

Barnsley Bros Monett Missouri

[Mumbleypeg]

Nice old survivors. Be very cautious with any “restoration” - they're only original once. Light cleaning to remove any pocket lint, and a drop or two of oil is all they need. Tempting as it may be, many a collectable old knife has been ruined by over-aggressive cleaning and “restoration”.

BTW I’ve been to Monett. Years ago I attended a youth baseball game there. My cousin’s team (he lived in Carterville) was playing the team from Monett. Probably early 1960s. I don’t remember much about it, just that we went to Monett. Can’t even recall who won.

Ken

[doglegg]

Barnsley Bros Monett Missouri

I'd leave it like it is. Sweet old knife.

[ROB 55]

The Missouri Encyclopedia has recently added an entry on the Barnsley Brothers Cutlery Company:

https://missouriencyclopedia.org/things ... ry-company

[Pugh357]

What a great read of new information! Thanks, I really appreciate it! Always on the hunt for these old knives

[btrwtr]

What a fantastic thread! Great input and history here. Thanks for sharing!

[peanut740]

Barnsley Brothers box.